Abortions provided in the U.S. are safe and effective, but state regulations can impact the safety of the abortions, finds a landmark report, from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.

The study looked at four legal methods of abortion in the nation --- medication, aspiration, dilation and evacuation and induction. According to the report, serious complications occur in fewer than one percent of abortions, but the risk of serious complications rises with the number of weeks of gestation.

The study says unlike other health procedures, abortions are subject to a wide array of regulations that vary by state. State regulations may force women to delay their abortion, which raises their risk of serious complications, by requiring women to make multiple in-person visits and wait. At the same time, the regulations will sometimes require care to be provided in places that are more expensive than is medically necessary.

Retirement is a good time to relax and spend time doing the things you didn’t have time to do in your working life. It it arguably the best time to travel. Exploring the world can make your golden years the most enjoyable and rewarding years of your life. But, if you don’t budget for it, you could seriously harm your finances. Motley Fool writer, Maurie Backman, has three tips to help you budget for travel in retirement.

Figure out how much money you can spend on travel each year. Backman writes as a general rule, you can withdraw about 4% of your nest egg’s value each year without running out of money. But, don’t forget to account for taxes and your basic living expenses, like housing, food, clothing and healthcare when you’re calculating that figure.

Prioritize your trips and understand their costs. Identify the trips that are most important to you and really nail down how much they’ll cost, rather than just guessing the prices. Keep in mind, it pays to think ahead, like bumping up those trips that are more physically demanding than others.

Add a buffer. Research and see if there are any senior discounts associated with your most important trips. There might be deals on car rentals, meals, or hotels. At the same time, make sure you build a buffer into each trip’s budget so you have unexpected expenses covered. For example, on a cruise, you may end up wanting to take part in a last-minute excursion. Tips may end up costing more than you anticipated. Also, invest in travel insurance in case your plans are disrupted or you run into a health issue that causes you to cancel your trip.

We hope these tips help you find a way to spend more time traveling in your golden years!

Prosecutors in New York and Texas are considering criminal charges against United Airlines in the death of a pet dog after the TSA-approved carrier it was in was placed in an overhead bin on a Houston-New York flight.

Fox News reports the dog’s owners said a flight attendant forced them to put the carrier in the overhead bin even after they told her their dog was inside it. The dog, named Kokito, kept barking during the flight, but the family said they couldn’t stand up due to turbulence and there were no flight attendants around.

ABC News reports United said the flight attendant did not hear the dog’s owners say there was a dog in the bag and released a statement that reads in part, “...our flight attendant did not hear or understand her, and did not knowingly place the dog in the overhead bin...we take full responsibility and are deeply sorry for this tragic accident."

Wood says that there is no problem in most situations: If you own the property, you pay the tax. The catch arises when the person who is holding the cryptocurrency is holding it for the benefit of someone else. The issue of beneficial ownership “is as old as the hills.” Wood also notes that the IRS generally determines ownership of property based on local law. This highlights the importance of fact situations when the question involves ownership.

The best way to avoid ownership questions, Wood says, is to have clear documentation of ownership. Telling the IRS, after you’ve sold Bitcoin, that the sale was on someone else’s behalf probably won’t make the tax problem go away. It’s somewhat analogous to the situation with joint bank accounts. In such a situation, both people are liable for paying taxes on interest earned. If one signatory on the account is merely there as a convenience for the other person, documentation is the key to clarifying who should pay taxes on the account.

Wood also points out that local law may not always be the determining factor when the IRS is looking to collect taxes. Because cryptocurrency is very new, there is almost no law on ownership and tax issues. However, there are cases where a beneficial owner has ended up on the hook for taxes. In Chu v. Commissioner, a man was had to pay income tax as the beneficial owner of a bank account, even though he was not the owner of the account under local law.

Robert W. Wood is the Managing Partner of Wood LLP, San Francisco. Often listed among the best tax lawyers in America, Wood has broad experience in corporate, partnership and individual tax matters. Concerning the tax treatment of litigation settlements and judgments, he is perhaps the preeminent tax lawyer in the United States. He is also an authority on merger and acquisition tax matters, tax opinions, offshore account and entity disclosures, and many types of tax controversies. The Legal Broadcast Network is a featured network of Sequence Media Group.

President Donald Trump will name CNBC contributor and media analyst, Larry Kudlow, as the next head of the White House National Economic Council, replacing Gary Cohn. Cohn stepped down from the role over disagreements with Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

CNBC reports Kudlow said, ‘I've known him and interviewed him for over 20 years. I'm very comfortable with him and I can't wait to start.’

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said, “We will have to work to have an orderly transition and will keep everyone posted on the timing of him officially assuming the role.”

Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty for Nikolas Cruz, the 19-year-old accused of carrying out a mass shooting at a Parkland, Florida high school on Valentine’s Day. Cruz is charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder and 17 counts of attempted murder.

In court documents obtained by CNN, prosecutors said they believe they can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Cruz, “knowingly created a great risk of death to many persons,” “the capital felony was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel,” and the shooting rampage “...was committed in a cold, calculated, and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification.”

We’ve been cooking up beg worthy snacks here in our kitchen. Baking your own treats is fun and easy, plus they can be way healthier than the store-bought kind . In this very first episode of "Canine Cuisine" we will make a banana-almond sweet treat and a diabetic-friendly liver treat.

1. Pre-heat oven to 350° Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Use a fork to mash the banana in a medium/large size bowl. Once mashed, add in the rest of the ingredients and mix together with a fork until blended. The batter consistency should be very thick and gooey – this will not resemble your normal treat dough.

3. Spoon out dime sized dollops onto your parchment paper and place in the oven for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, turn the pan and bake for another 5 minutes.

2. Place the liver into a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped. If you have room, add the flour and eggs, and process until smooth. Otherwise, transfer to a bowl, and stir in the flour and eggs using a wooden spoon. Spread evenly in the prepared pan.

3. Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the center is firm. Cool, and cut into squares using a pizza cutter. The treats will have a consistency similar to a sponge. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

Suggestions for our next episode? Send us a comment: info@sequencemg.com.

Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says he plans to sue oil companies for ‘knowingly killing people all over the world.’ During a live recording of Politico’s Off Message podcast, Schwarzenegger said oil companies have committed the equivalent of first-degree murder.

He said oil companies have known since 1959 that fossil fuels would cause global warming and their products would kill people. He said it is ‘absolutely irresponsible to know that your product is killing people and to not have a warning label on it like they do in tobacco.’ He said every gas station and car should have a warning label.

Women are at a financial disadvantage when it comes to retirement, with only 12 percent of women reporting they are “very confident” they’ll retire with a comfortable lifestyle, as compared to 24 percent of men, finds a Transamerica study. Researchers found nearly half of women are “not too confident,” as compared to 31 percent of men who feel the same.

Women have a multitude of factors stacked up against them, including the pay wage gap and the fact they are more likely to work part-time, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late.

Through their study, Transamerica has 11 tips for women to take control of their retirement. They are:

1. Create a budget that includes income, living expenses, paying off debt, and financial goals such as building short-term savings and long-term retirement savings.

2. Start saving for retirement and get into the habit of saving on a regular, consistent basis. Save as much as you can, knowing that both small and large amounts add up over time.

3. Consider retirement benefits as part of total compensation when evaluating employment opportunities.

4. If your employer offers a retirement plan, participate. Take advantage of employer matching contributions, if available. Take advantage of the IRS Saver’s Credit, if eligible. Consider making catch-up contributions if you are age 50 or older.

5. Develop a retirement strategy and write it down. Envision your future retirement and use an online calculator to estimate your long-term savings needs. Then formulate a goal for how much you will need to save each year – and hold yourself accountable for saving.

6. Carefully consider the financial trade-offs and options when facing life’s important decisions about whether to reduce work hours or take time out of the workforce to be a parent or caregiver.

7. Maintain your ability to continue working past age 65. Keep your job skills up to date and in step with employers’ needs.

8. Become personally involved in your family finances ranging from daily budgeting to long-term planning. Discuss retirement saving and planning with family and close friends.

9. Get educated about retirement investing. Learn about possible ways to help make savings last longer including when to take withdrawals from retirement accounts to minimize taxes and penalties, and the best time to start Social Security to maximize benefits. Seek professional assistance if needed.

10. Have a backup plan in the event of unforeseen circumstances such as separation, divorce, loss of a partner, or being unable to work before your planned retirement. Consider emergency savings, insurance products such as disability insurance and life insurance, and possibly ways to cut costs if needed.

11. Take good care of yourself and safeguard your health. Consider the long-term health implications when making lifestyle decisions.

Cryptocurrencies continue to be hot items, and many investors have seen big gains in the value of their purchases. The IRS is always looking for tax dollars from gains, so crypto investors need a way to transfer their purchases without triggering taxes. Section 1031 exchanges are no longer an option for Bitcoin owners. However, there are options, as tax lawyer Rob Wood explains in this report. He also discussed this subject in his article, “Tax-Free Ways to Transfer Bitcoin and Other Crypto: Expert Take.”

Rob Wood

Wood says that making a gift is an obvious way to transfer cryptocurrency. A gift is not subject to income tax when the gift is made. The current law provides that up to $15,000 per person per year (the “annual exclusion”) can be transferred without even the need of reporting the gift. If the amount of the gift exceeds the $15,000 limit, you have to report it, and it counts against your lifetime tax-free transfer amount, currently $11.2 million.

Wood points out a couple of things to be aware of: First, a gift must really be a gift. For example, in a business setting, a “gift” might actually be a bonus, at least in the view of the IRS, and bonuses are treated as compensation. And, of course, the recipient of the gift will need to pay income tax on any gain when the cryptocurrency is sold.

Another option, related to making a gift, would be making a contribution to a charity. The benefit to the donor arises when the gift is an item in which the donor has a very low basis but which has a high market value. Wood says that if the recipient is a 501(c)(3) organization, the donor can claim the market value as a tax deduction and not pay taxes on the appreciation in value that has occurred.

Another possibility involves starting up an LLC or partnership. Wood says that the holder of cryptocurrency that has appreciated in value can avoid paying tax on it by starting a company to be used as a business or investment vehicle. By following the rules, an individual can form the company, contribute the cryptocurrency, and take back shares of stock or a partnership interest. “That transfer is not treated as taxable.”

The caveat Wood offers is that the holder of cryptocurrency should get some sound advice before making any of these moves. Sometimes, people make simple mistakes when making a transfer. There are a number of small things that individuals can overlook when making a transfer, and missing a step can cause a person to miss out on a tax deduction.

Robert W. Wood is the Managing Partner of Wood LLP, San Francisco. Often listed among the best tax lawyers in America, Wood has broad experience in corporate, partnership and individual tax matters. Concerning the tax treatment of litigation settlements and judgments, he is perhaps the preeminent tax lawyer in the United States. He is also an authority on merger and acquisition tax matters, tax opinions, offshore account and entity disclosures, and many types of tax controversies. The Legal Broadcast Network is a featured network of Sequence Media Group.

ISIS has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that killed at least seven people and injured dozens of others in Kabul, Afghanistan.

The suicide bomber was on foot when he blew himself near a Shi’ite mosque. The New York Times reports although ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, a government spokesperson blamed the Haqqani network, a Pakistan-based terrorist group that’s affiliated with the Taliban.

Where are the most LGBT-friendly cities in the U.S. for retirees? According to SeniorAdvice.com there are 20 cities you should consider if you’re part of the LGBT community and retired.

So here’s the list, with Ft. Lauderdale, Florida coming out on top. Then it’s Austin, TX; Atlanta, GA; Portland, OR; Palm Springs, CA and then 15 other cities. For the full list you can click on this link. Multiple cities in California and Florida made the list. The Northwestern region and Eastern part of the U.S. were also well represented on the list.

A multitude of factors were considered, including the percentage of LGBT people in the area, available social activities, presence of gay-friendly senior communities, and the number of hospitals and pharmacies. The list also considers the city’s SeniorScore, which is an exclusive comprehensive un-biased scoring system designed to identify and measure the livability for seniors.

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City has issued a travel warning for the resort town of Playa del Carmen after receiving information about a security threat.

A Security Alert says U.S. government employees are prohibited from traveling to Playa del Carmen until further notice. The move comes after a Feb. 21 explosion on a tourist ferry in Playa del Carmen, which injured five Americans onboard.

The 2018 Oscars are now history, and winners are enjoying the goodies handed out in the famous Oscar swag bags that winners receive each year. This year’s winners made out very well, receiving gifts that included a twelve-night Tanzania trip for two and a seven-day Hawaiian vacation. But there’s a catch to all this: income tax. Recipients have to report the bags as income, and the tax bill on these gifts can be large. Tax lawyer Rob Wood explains the tax situation in this report. He also discussed the subject in his Forbes article, “Oscars $100K Swag Bag's Taxing Price Tag.”

Rob Wood

Wood says that the IRS takes the position that the swag bags are not gifts, but promotional items. The companies providing the goodies actually pay to have their gifts included in the bags. The goal, of course, is to get celebrities to use the items in the bag, thus promoting the products in question. So, the IRS takes the position that the swag bags constitute income. In fact, the promoters are required to issue forms 1099 to the celebrities that can be used when it’s time to prepare tax returns.

Wood points out that accepting the bag is not something Oscar winners are required to do. A celebrity who doesn’t want the swag can simply refuse the bag. But what if the celebrity accepts the bag and then gives away some or all of the goodies to charity? In that case, Wood says, the celebrity will have income equal to the value of the bag but may have a charitable deduction for only part of the value of the items in question. And non-celebrities who get vouchers or gift certificates are in the same situation of receiving reportable income. Think of the Oprah Winfrey show where she gave away cars to everyone in the audience. Wood urges everyone to think about tax possibilities whenever they receive a gift.

Robert W. Wood is the Managing Partner of Wood LLP, San Francisco. Often listed among the best tax lawyers in America, Wood has broad experience in corporate, partnership and individual tax matters. Concerning the tax treatment of litigation settlements and judgments, he is perhaps the preeminent tax lawyer in the United States. He is also an authority on merger and acquisition tax matters, tax opinions, offshore account and entity disclosures, and many types of tax controversies. The Legal Broadcast Network is a featured network of Sequence Media Group.

The retirement outlook for Millennials is dire, finds a report from the National Institute on Retirement Security. According to the report, most Millennials have saved nothing for retirement and those who are saving, aren’t saving enough.

The report examined 2014 U.S. Census Bureau data to identify what Millennials are doing to prepare for retirement. Some of the key findings are: two-thirds of working Millennials have saved nothing for retirement, out of the two-thirds of Millennials who work for an employer that offers a retirement plan, only a little over one-third participate in the plan.

In terms of racial differences, Latino Millennials have saved the least, 83 percent of them had nothing saved for retirement, and only 19 percent of them participated in employer-sponsored retirement plans. Millennial White women had the highest participation rate in a retirement plan, at 40 percent.

]]>Most Millennials Have Saved Nothing for Retirement, Study Findshttp://sequencemedianews.com/the-lbn-blog/2018/3/7/most-millennials-have-saved-nothing-for-retirement-study-findsUsing Baby Talk is a Good way to Bond With Your DogVanessa PengTue, 06 Mar 2018 23:22:50 +0000http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsFromTheLegalBroadcastNetwork/~3/KnBGRMmbe38/using-baby-talk-is-a-good-way-to-bond-with-your-dog50a2caf3e4b091209446a0ee:50a3e9ede4b07bb46ae6f6ca:5a9f2248c830252adbae0e4e

Do you talk to your dog in a baby voice? It turns out, talking to your dog in a baby voice is a good way to bond with your pet!

Scientists at the University of York found the high-pitched voice some pet parents use on their dogs, similar to the speech some parents use with their human babies -- known as dog-directed speech -- improves dog attention and helps with bonding.

Researchers paired adult dogs with one person who used dog-directed speech with dog-related content, and then the dogs listened to another person who used adult-directed speech with no dog-related content. They they switched up the content and type of speech -- dog-directed speech with no dog-related content, adult-directed speech with dog-related content.

After each session of listening, the dogs were let free to choose who they wanted to play with. It's obvious that dogs preferred the dog-directed speech with the dog-related content over any other combination, but when the content and speech were mixed up -- the dogs showed no preference for one speaker over the other. Scientists say that means dogs need to hear dog words in a high-pitched baby voice before they’ll care.

]]>Using Baby Talk is a Good way to Bond With Your Doghttp://sequencemedianews.com/the-lbn-blog/2018/3/6/using-baby-talk-is-a-good-way-to-bond-with-your-dogAmazon Looking to Offer Checking AccountsVanessa PengMon, 05 Mar 2018 23:24:35 +0000http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsFromTheLegalBroadcastNetwork/~3/ExRzvz2mIxg/amazon-looking-to-offer-checking-accounts50a2caf3e4b091209446a0ee:50a3e9ede4b07bb46ae6f6ca:5a9dd10bf9619ac76db70306

Amazon is apparently in talks with JPMorgan Chase & Co. among other banks to provide checking accounts for its customers, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Bloomberg reports the plan is to target millennials. The WSJ says Amazon also hopes to target those without checking accounts.

According to Bloomberg, the move could lead to Amazon lowering the fees it pays financial institutions and of course a broader look into customers’ incomes and spending habits.

While most of today’s retirees are financially stable, future retirees face an uncertain future, finds a new study from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. According to a brief, changes in the retirement landscape will make it more difficult for future retirees to maintain their standard of living.

Future retirees will likely have to rely on income drawn from assets accumulated over their working careers, which is largely due to the shift from traditional employer pensions to 401(k)s. The overall level of retirement income is declining and Social Security will replace a smaller share of earnings at any given claiming age.

The report says the best ways for future retirees to secure their retirement is to increase their retirement income and reduce their fixed expenses, by working longer, annuitizing wealth, taking out a reverse mortgage, and downsizing.

]]>Future Retirees' Financial Security at Riskhttp://sequencemedianews.com/the-lbn-blog/2018/3/5/future-retirees-financial-security-at-riskNew York City Has Highest Consumption of Cannabis in the WorldVanessa PengFri, 02 Mar 2018 22:21:04 +0000http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsFromTheLegalBroadcastNetwork/~3/UkS6jh7zCgo/new-york-city-has-highest-consumption-of-cannabis-in-the-world50a2caf3e4b091209446a0ee:50a3e9ede4b07bb46ae6f6ca:5a99cd6d085229c0d3702da6

New Yorkers consume more cannabis than anyone else in the world, finds a study from Seedo. Even though marijuana is partially legal in New York City, residents consume 77.44 metric tons of weed a year.

The number two city is Karachi, Pakistan where cannabis is illegal -- 41.95 metric tons of weed is consumed there annually. Los Angeles had the 4th highest consumption, at 36.06 metric tons.

Singapore, where marijuana is illegal has the lowest consumption of weed in the world at 0.02 metric tons.

]]>New York City Has Highest Consumption of Cannabis in the Worldhttp://sequencemedianews.com/the-lbn-blog/2018/3/2/new-york-city-has-highest-consumption-of-cannabis-in-the-world